DECATUR - Tammy Duckworth knew she could quote statistics all day, but sharing an account about meeting a woman who is without health insurance and can't afford prostheses for her amputated arms and legs told the true story.

"We need to make sure all Illinoisans have access to affordable coverage," said Duckworth, director of that Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, who also is an amputee. "What kind of country have we become when good families are now without health care insurance?"

Duckworth addressed a small crowd on Thursday morning at the Illinois Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 974 building to advocate for Gov. Rod Blagojevich's "Investing in Families Initiative," which is the proposed budget for fiscal year 2008.

The initiative includes the "Illinois Covered" plan to provide insurance to all Illinoisans, the "Helping Kids Learn" plan to invest an additional $10 billion in Illinois schools over the next four years and requiring big businesses to pay a "gross receipts tax," as well as a plan to address the state's longtime pension deficit for thousands of retired state workers.

"This is a historic budget proposal; it's time to invest in the schools - improve the environment and make it better for students, better for teachers and administrators," said Bob Arya, senior adviser to the governor.

"We need to reform our tax system; it's broken, doesn't work and is not fair. The broken system doesn't stem from the corporations, but they have taken advantage of it, and it's time to change that," he added.

The proposed plans will help current and future generations, Arya said.

Several community members also spoke on behalf of the proposed initiative. Ann Chelette, coordinator of school health services for the Decatur School District, noted the importance of enhancing special-education programs and early childhood education programs with additional funding.

Investing in the future is desperately needed for the state, said Rev. Thomas Walker, of Main Street Church of the Living God.

"We can't afford not to support the governor's initiatives," Walker told the crowd. "As citizens of Decatur, we know what need we have here for health care and for education. The need is clear, and the time is now."

Courtney Klemm can be reached at cklemm@herald-review.com or 421-6968.